1973 EgyptAir Ilyushin Il-18 crash
Encyclopedia
The EgyptAir Ilyushin Il-18 crash occurred on 29 January 1973. The turboprop ran the international route between Cairo International Airport
and the now defunct Nicosia International Airport
. All 37 people on board died. It was the fourth accident, and the third with fatalities, involving the newly established EgyptAir
.
The plane crashed in the Kyrenia mountain range
in Cyprus
on its descent while approaching the runway from the north. The resulting explosion, about 12 miles (19.3 km) from Nicosia airport, resulted in a fire which was put out by the Cypriot National Guard
. The turboprop hit the mountain at an altitude of 783 metres (2,568.9 ft) (117 metres (383.9 ft) below the crest). The black box of the aircraft was analysed in Moscow
.
Passenger nationalities were: 14 Britons, 7 US citizens, 2 Swedes, 1 French, 3 Egyptians, 1 Jordanian, 1 Canadian, 1 Irish. All 7 members of the crew were Egyptian.
Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co...
and the now defunct Nicosia International Airport
Nicosia International Airport
Nicosia International Airport is a largely disused airport located to the west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia. It was originally the main airport for the island, but commercial activity ceased following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974...
. All 37 people on board died. It was the fourth accident, and the third with fatalities, involving the newly established EgyptAir
EgyptAir
EgyptAir is the flag carrier airline of Egypt and a member of Star Alliance. The airline is based at Cairo International Airport, its main hub, operating scheduled passenger and freight services to more than 75 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas...
.
The plane crashed in the Kyrenia mountain range
Kyrenia mountain range
The Kyrenia Mountains are a long, narrow chain of mountains that runs approximately along the north coast of Cyprus. The mountains are primarily limestone, with some marble. The highest mountain, Kyparissovouno, is in elevation. The western half of the range is also known as the Pentadactylos...
in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
on its descent while approaching the runway from the north. The resulting explosion, about 12 miles (19.3 km) from Nicosia airport, resulted in a fire which was put out by the Cypriot National Guard
Cypriot National Guard
The Cypriot National Guard , also known as the "Greek Cypriot National Guard" or simply as "National Guard", is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus...
. The turboprop hit the mountain at an altitude of 783 metres (2,568.9 ft) (117 metres (383.9 ft) below the crest). The black box of the aircraft was analysed in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Passenger nationalities were: 14 Britons, 7 US citizens, 2 Swedes, 1 French, 3 Egyptians, 1 Jordanian, 1 Canadian, 1 Irish. All 7 members of the crew were Egyptian.